Relationship between consumerism and technology?

I clearly still need to talk about the role of technology/technocentrism in LH's approach to sustainability, but where to fit that in? The introduction, where I give an all-over introduction and critique to the key characteristics of LH? Is there a better way to integrate it into consumerism so some of my prior research can still be used?

In thinking along these lines, I recalled the close relationship between mass production and consumerism, that one has historically stimulated the other by offering to the public products that are cheap, high-quality, and widely available.

Neil Jackson's "Metal-framed houses of LA" article, part II, talks a lot about Case Study architect Raphael Soriano's interest in prefabrication. Soriano, among others, was interested in bringing houses into the mass-production sphere by using standardized parts and steel frame construction. LH's focus on prefabrication and metal frames clearly pays tribute to this legacy, although they no longer seem to have that revolution-minded industrial zeal of those 50s architects. For LH it is more of a matter of pragmatism - it saves money. There is little talk of reforming how people live, entering upon a new era, etc. (in Arts and Architecture there was plenty of that.) And for LH, there is little talk of mass production, merely streamlining the process for the few who do decide to build. (or is there?)

Could it be that Soriano et. al.'s legacy for LivingHomes has been diluted after decades of lukewarm interest in prefab houses? Or is LH's interest in prefabrication indicative of a small desire to make the sustainable home into a mass-produced commodity? If the latter, then a strong relationship can be built up between technology (via fabrication and construction methods) and consumerism in the analysis of LH... that would be a good question for the tour.

Which, incidentally, is tomorrow!! Yikes!